Shock absorbing apparatus for straight bar knitting machines



Dec. 13, 1966 M. SCHELLER 3,290,901

SHOCK ABSORBING APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 13, 1966 H. scHL-:LLER 3,290,901

SHOCK ABSORBING APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet. 2

FIG. 3

H. SCHELLER 3,290,901 SHOCK ABSORBING APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHT BARKNITTING MACHINES Dec. 13, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2, 1964 FIG.4'

Dec. 13, 1966 H. SCHELLER SHOCK ABSORBING APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHT BARKNITTING MACHINES Filed June 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 by I fh; f A a f.l' /ff/kaf H. SCHELLER Dec. 13, 1966 SHOCK ABSORBING APPARATUS FORSTRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG,7

United States atent 3,290,901 .Patented Dec. i3, `1966 hice The presentinvention relates to shock absorbing apparatus for braking areciprocating member near the ends of its stroke, and more particularlyto shock absorbing apparatus for braking and stopping the yarn carrier`means of a straight bar knitting machine.

Straight bar knitting machines of the Cotton type, have yarn carriersconnected with friction boxes mounted on a reciprocable friction boxrod. When knitting machines of this type are operated at high speed andduring the knitting'of wide work pieces, it is necessary to brake themovement of the yarn carrier means before the same are stopped `by stopmeans at the ends of the desired strokes.

It is advantageous to reduce the speed of the yarn carrier meansgradually from the maximum speed to zero speed, and in one constructionacconding to the prior art, the carrier rod ofthe yarn carrier is drivenby a crank which performs a movement through 90 so that at the end ofthe stroke, the crank moves transverse to the direction of movement ofthe carrier rod, so that the same is not driven in its end position.

However, this prior art construction has the disadvantage that the yarncarrier means must move at least a distance corresponding to four timesthe radius of the crank movement. Under practical conditions, it is veryfrequently necessary to knit webs of lesser width.

Therefore, another construction of the piror art uses a frictioncoupling between driving means and the carrier rod, permitting theknitting of narrower workpieces. The shock absorbing effect is obtainedby moving the friction coupling in the opposite direction before thecarrier means have engaged the stop at the end of the reciprocatingstroke.

Another construction serving this purpose is disclosed in the BritishPatent 899,345. This apparatus requires a very careful adjustment, andit has been found that even very minute deviations from the adjustedposition, as will occur after the machine has been operated for lacertain time, may result in disturbance of the operation, and even inbreakage of parts of the coulier motion.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantagesof known shock absorbing apparatus, particularly as used in straight barknitting machines, and to provide a shock absorbing apparatus whichreliably operates to brake and stop a reciprocating member, such as yarncarrier means, at the ends of reciprocating strokes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbingapparatus in which an engaging member coupled to a control shaftrotating at a selected speed, is turned by the reciprocating memberthrough such an angle that the speed of the reciprocating member isgradually reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbingapparatus for the yarn carrier means of a straight bar knitting machinewhich will reliably operate when the stroke of the coulier motion isadjusted to different widths of the knitted fabric.

With these objects in view, the present invention relates to a shockabsorbing apparatus which is particularly suited for braking andstopping the yarn carriers of the straight bar Cotton type knittingmachine. One

embodiment of the invention comprises a `control shaft rotated at aselected speed; supporting means; shock absorbing means mounted on thesupporting means for turning movement and connected by an overrunnin gclutch with the control shaft; and a reciprocable member, such as thefriction box by which the yarn carrier means are reciprocated, and beingreciprocated in one direction at a speed having a predetermined ratio tothe speed of the control shaft. Near the end of each reciprocatingstroke, the shock absorbing means are engaged by the reciprocatingmember and turn at such a speed that the overrunning clutch is engaged.In this condition ofthe clutch, the control shaft turns the shockabsorbing means at a selected speed so that the speed of furthermovement of the reciprocating member cannot exceed the speed componentof the rotary speed of the shock absorbing means in the direction ofmovement of the reciprocating member.

The shock absorbing means include an engaging member moving along acircularpath through an angle of substantially When the engaging memberis first engaged by the reciprocating member, it moves out of a firstangular position substantially in. the direction of reciprocation,` butwhen engaging member with the shock absorbing means is turned through 90until direction of movement of the engaging member is transverse to thedirection of reciprocation, the reciprocating member is stopped. In thismanner, the speed of the reciprocating member is gradually reduced fromits maximum speed to zero speed.

Biasing means normally hold the overrunning clutch in a position of restin which it is disengaged, andthe force of the biaaing'means is overcomeby the' force of the reciprocating member.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a lever is mounted on thesupporting means, and the engaging member of the shock absorbing meansis not directly engaged by the reciprocating member for example by thefriction box, but the reciprocating member engages the forcetransmittinglever and presses the same against the engaging member so that the sameslides orV rollson the force transmitting lever while moving through 90from its first angular position to its second angular position.

During the turning movement of the shock `absorbing means, thereciprocating friction box is braked since the engaging member of theshock absorbing means moves along the circular pathiat a constant speeddetermined by the control shaft.

In one embodiment of the invention, the overrunning clutch is connectedby bevel gears to the contro] shaft, and the supporting means wit-h theshock absorbing means and the overrunning clutch, are adjustable in thedirection of reciprocation so that the control shaft is provided withaxial grooves to permit an axial movement of the bevel gear mountedthereon, whilelthe bevel gear is connected to the control shaft forturning movement'.

Straight bar knitting machines in which the reciproeating strokeproduced by the coulier motion is substantially constant, permit thedriving of the control shaft from the main drive shaft of themachine,'or from the cam shaft of the machine through a transmissionwhich is designed so that the speed of the engaging member along itscircular path is equal to the speed of reciprocation of the frictionboxes and yarn carriers.

Straight bar knitting machines in which the stroke of the coulier motionis adapted t-o difiere-nt fabric width, require the control shaft to bedriven at a speed directly depending on the speed of reciprocation ofthe coulier motion, and in machines of this type, the present inventionprovides a transmission between `a reciprocating member driven in asynchronism with the coulier motion, and the control shaft so that thespeed of rotation of the control shaft corresponds to the speed ofreciprocation produced by the coulier motion, which is different fordifferent fabric Widths.

One embodiment of this construction provides a reversing gear which isautomatically operated to connect a reciprocating member with thecontrol shaft in such a manner that the control shaft always rotates inthe same direction although the reciprocating member moves in oppositedirections. The reversing gear is automatically shifted under thecontrol of a cam rotating in synchronism with the draw cam or couliercam of the machine.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular' in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. l is a fragmentary front elevation of a shock absorbing apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line II-II in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. l and2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front view illustrating a detail of FIG. l on anenlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partly schematic, cross-sectional viewillustrating a straight bar knitting machine of the Cotton type in whichthe yarn carrier means are braked and stopped by the shock absorbingapparatus of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear view illustrating a modied construction ofthe invention particularly suited for straight bar knitting machines inwhich the stroke of the coulier motion is adjustable in accordance withthe fabric width; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary schematic cross-sectional view illustrating astraight bar knitting machine provided with the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIG. 6, with parts illustrated in FIG. 5 omitted forthe sake of simplicity.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 5, thestandard parts of a straight bar knitting machine of the Cotton type areonly schematically indicated, while parts cooperating with the apparatusof the present invention are shown in detail. The machine has aplurality of walls 29, indicated in chain lines in FIG. 5 which areconnnected by longitudinal beams Sil, 31, 32 and 33 and which support aplurality of shafts and rods extending longitudinally of the machine,and indicated in cross section. A motor 34 is connected by a pulley andbelt drive 35 to a pulley 36 fixed to a shaft 37 carrying a gear 40meshing with a larger gear 39 secured to the cam shaft 38 of the machineon which several cams, not shown, are mounted by which the knittingmotions of the needles and other operations of the machine arecontrolled in a well known manner. A bevel gear 41 is secured to camshaft 38 and meshes with another bevel gear 42 secured to the couliershaft 25 which is mounted in a bearing 43 on connecting beam 31 andcarries at its free end a coulier or draw cam 44.

Connecting beam 31 carries a supporting stud 45 on which a draw lever orrocker arm 46 is mounted for reciprocating angular motion. Rocker arm 46carries a pair of horizontally spaced cam follower rollers 47 of whichonly one is shown in FIG. 5, and which are arranged on opposite sides ofthe draw cam 44 to serve as cam followers. During turning movement ofdraw cam 44, rocker arm 46 will perform an angular reciprocating couliermotion. The sinkers and the yarn carrier means are operated inaccordance with this motion.

The upper end of rocker arm 46 is connected by a bearing 46a and a pintherein to a bracket 48 which is secured to the connecting bar 49a onwhich a slur cam box 50 is mounted for each section of the machine. Theslur cam box 50 is supported for sliding movement on the slur cam boxbar 49, and will reciprocate along the same under the control of drawcam 44. The slur cam box 50 has a slur cam cooperating with the jacks 51which are pivoted on a shaft.52 and respectively cooperate with sinkers53 which aresuccessively advanced when the slur cam moves longitudinallyof the machine in accordance with the coulier motion.

The reciprocating connecting bar 49a carries several brackets 54 onwhich the friction box rod or splicing shaft 51 is mounted so that thesame reciprocates with the coulier motion.

As also shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, friction box 2 is connected by thefriction box slide 3 to the carrier rod 4 on which yarn carrier 55 ismounted. The frictional engagement between the friction box 2 and thefriction box rod 1 is sufficient to cause reciprocating movement of theyarn carrier means 4, 55. However, the frictional coupling betweenfriction box 2 and friction box rod 1 permits it to stop the yarncarrier means before friction box rod 1 has reached the end of itsreciprocating stroke since the friction box of the stopped yarn carrierwill slide on the moving friction box rod 1.

The end positions of the yard carrier means are determined by a stop 4aon carrier rod 4 which cooperates with a pair of adjustable stop means 5and 6. Stop means 5 and 6 are mounted on threaded spindles 5 and 6',respectively, and are adjustable for determiningy the end positions ofstop 4a, and of the yarn carrier means. If stop 4a engages either stopmeans 5 or stop means 6, yarn carrier rod 4 may slide in yarn carrierslide 3.

A cylindrical guide bar 17 extends longitudinally of the machine and issupported on bracket 17a on beam 32, as shown in FIG. 2. A pair ofslidable supporting means 7 and 8 are mounted on guide bar 17 forlongitudinal sliding movement, and are respectively connected by spacingrods 5a and 6a to the adjustable stop means 5 and 6 so that the distancebetween supporting means 7 and 8 is adjusted when the distance of stopmeans 5 and 6 is adjusted.

Each supporting means 7 and 8 supports a shock absorbing means includinga circular disk 11b secured to a shaft 11 which is journaled in therespective supporting means and carrying a stud 11a on which a roller1t) is mounted for turning movement so that roller 1t) moves along acircular path when shock absorbing means 11, 11a, 11b, llt) turns. Theend of shaft 11 is secured to the inner part 12 of an overrunning orone-way clutch 13 whose outer part is secured to a bevel gear 14. Aspring 7a is secured to each supporting means 7 and 8 and to aneccentric point of the inner part 12 of the overrunning clutch 13, sothat clutch 13 is normally disengaged and in a position of rest, as willbe explained hereinafter. The overrunning clutch 13 ymay be of theconventional construction in which rollers are mounted in Wedgeshapedspaces between the outer and inner parts of the clutch.

Each supporting means 7 and 8 carries a force transmitting lever 9 whichhas an end portion located in the path of movement of friction box 2,and adapted to be engaged by the same during reciprocating movement offriction box rod 1, as shown for the left lever 9 in FIG. l.

When lever 9 is not engaged by the friction box, it is turned by theengaging member 10, 11a inwardly toward friction box 2 since spring 7aturns engaging member 1t), 11a of the right shock absorbing means incounterclockwise'direction, and engaging member 10, 11a of the leftshock absorbing means in clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. l. Sincethe right lever 9 is not engaged by the friction box 2, it is turned byengaging member 1t), 11a to a position engaging an adjustable stop 56 onsupporting means 8.

In this position of lever 9, the overrunning clutch,13 is in adisengaged position of rest, and engaging member 10, 11a is in such aposition that a plane passing through stud 11a and the center of shaft11 Will extend transverse to the direction of reciprocation of frictionbox 2 which is also the longitudinal direction of friction box rod 1.

When the right lever 9, engaged by friction box 2 is turned incouwnterclockwise direction, or when the left lever 9 is turned by thefriction box 2 in clockwise direction, the respective lever pressesagainst engaging member 10, 11a and turns the shock absorbing means 11,11a, 1lb, 10 together with the inner part 12 of the overrunning clutchagainst the action of the respective spring 7a to a position in which aplane passing through stud 11a and the center of shaft 11 is parallel tothe direction of reciprocation, as shown for the left shock absorbingmeans in FIG. 1. Since in this position of lever 9, no turning moment isexerted on shock absorbing means 1i, 11a, 11b, 10, engaging member 10,11a constitutes a stop i which prevents further turning of lever 9 andconsequently stops friction box 2 so that friction box rod 1 slides infriction box 2 when continuing its reciprocating motion. It Will be seenthat engaging member 10, 11a would `have to move further along itscircular path transverse to the direction of reciprocation of frictionbox 2, which is not possible. On the other hand, engaging member 1i),11a on the right of FIG. l will start its movement along `its circularpath in a direction parallel to the reciprocat ing motion of frictionbox 2 when the same engages lever 9, and consequently will tend to moveat the same speed as friction box 2. The speed component of the speed ofengaging member 10, 11a along its circular path is equal to the speed ofreciprocation in the first angular position of engaging member 1t), 11ashown on the right of FIG. l, and is zero for the second angularposition of engaging member 1t?, 11a shown on the left of FIG. l.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, a control shaft 16 is mounted in bearingsof bracket 17a, and extends parallel to the direction of reciprocationand to guide bar 17. Control shaft 16 has longitudinal axially extending`grooves 16 and carries a bevel gear 15 which has projectionscooperating with the grooves of the shaft so that bevel gear isshiftable in axial direction of the shaft, but turns with the same. Ahub portion of bevel gear 15 is mounted in a bearing on an arm 7b ofsupporting means 7, as shown in FIG. 3 so that bevel gear 15 is movedalong the splined control shaft 16 when the position of supporting means7 is adjusted along guide bar 17. A corresponding arrangement isprovided for supporting means 8, so that the overrunning clutch of theshock absorbing means 11, 11a, 11b, 1t) is also driven from controlshaft 16.

As shown in FIG. 5, a sprocket 57 is secured to shaft 37 and connectedby a chain 58 to a sprocket 59 secured to control shaft 16. Since thereciprocating motion of friction box rod 1 is also derived from shaft 37through gears 39, 40, shaft 38, gears 41, 4Z and cam 441, the rotaryspeed of control shaft 16 is in a certain ratio to the reciprocatingspeed of friction box 2, and can be selected by suitably designing thetransmission means.

The rotary speed of control shaft 16 is selected in such a manner thatthe outer part of overrunning clutch 13 rotates at the same speed atwhich shaft 11 turns with the inner part 12 of the overrunning clutchwhen lever 9 is engaged by friction box 2 and turns engaging member 1t),11a out of its first angular position shown on the right side of FIG. l.

Consequently the moment in which friction box 2 engages lever 9 near theend of the reciprocating stroke of yarn carrier means 4, 55, the innerpart 12 of the overrunning clutch is driven at the same rotary speed asthe outer part, and consequently the overrunning clutch 13 engages andshock absorbing means 11, 11a, 11b, 11B continues its turning movementat the same speed as control shaft 15 with which it is now positivelycoupled, and

d the rotary speed of shaft 11 cannot exceed the'rotary speed of controlshaft 16.

While engaging member 10, 11a moves from its lirst angular positionshown on the right of FIG. 1 to its second angular position shown on theleft of FIG. l, engaging member 1li, 11a moves along 90 of a circularpath, but the end of lever 9 moves substantially in the direction ofreciprocation of friction box 2 so that the speed of the friction boxcorresponds only to a component of the speed of engaging member 10, 11aalong the circular path, namely the component in the direction of thereciprocating movement.

As explained above, this component is substantially equal to thereciprocating speed in the first angular position of engaging member 10,11a shown on the right of FIG. 1, and is zero in the second angularposition of engaging member 10, 11a shown on the left of FIG. 1

Where the end of the reciprocating stroke is reached. At the same time,the angular speed of lever 9 is reduced from a maximum to zero.Consequently, the movement of friction box 2 is retarded and its speedis gradually reduced to zero so that the yarn Carrier means i is stoppedWithout any shock.

The machine is prepared for the operation by adjusting the positions ofstop means 5 and 6 together with the positions of supporting means 7 and8 in accordance with the desired length of the reciprocating stroke ofyarn carrier means 4, 55. When the machine is operated, the couliermotion derived from draw cam dit causes reciprocation of the slur camboxes 50 with the slur cams whereby the sinkers 53 are advanced, andsimultaneous reciprocation of the friction box rod 1 with the frictionboxes 2 and yarn carrier means 4, 55. The length of the reciprocatingstroke of friction box rod 1 corresponds to the reciprocating strokerequired for the slur cam, and is greater than the length of thereciprocating stroke desired for the yarn carrier 55.

During the greater part of the reciprocating stroke of yarn carriermeans 4, 55, the shock absorbing means are in the position shown on theright of FIG. 1 for the shock absorbing means mounted on supportingmeans 8. Spring 7a, not shown in FIG. 1, turns the shock absorbing meanswith engaging member 10, 11a to urge levers 9 inward against stops 56.The overrunning clutch 13 is disengaged in this position so that theinner part 12 is stopped and the outer part of the overrunning clutch 13is driven through bevel gears 111, 15 from control shaft 16 at aselected speed.

When friction box 2 is near the end of a reciprocating stroke, itengages the respective lever 9 and turns the same about its pivotalsupport on the supporting means 7 or 8 so that engaging member 11astarts its movement along its circular path parallel to the direction ofreciprocation at a speed corresponding to the circumferential speed ofthe outer part of the overrunning clutch so that the same is engaged,and the speed of engaging member 1t), 11a along its circular path cannotexceed the rotary speed of the outer part of the overrunning clutch 13which depends on the rotary speed of control shaft 16.

The respective engaging member 10, 11a gradually approaches the positionshown for the shock absorbing means on supporting means 7 in FIG. l,while the angular speed of lever 9 is reduced to zero due to the factthat the component of the speed of the engaging member along itscircular path which acts in the direction of reciprocation is graduallyreduced to zero, and is zero when engaging member 1t), 11a movestransverse to the direction of reciprocation. Roller 10 rolls on theengaging face of the force transmitting lever 9 during movement from itsfirst angular position to its second angular position. In the latterposition lever 9 is blocked, and stops friction box 2 so that frictionbox rod 1 slides in friction box 2 during further reciprocating movementof friction box rod 1 under the control of rocker arm 46. Stop means 5and 6 determine the limits of the reciprocating stroke of the yarncarrier rod 4 when engaged by stop da.

The embodiment of the invention described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5is concerned with a machine in which the coulier distance is constant,corresponding to a fabric of constant width. Since the speed ofreciprocation is constant, it is possible to drive control shaft 16 fromthe main drive shaft 37 from which the speed of the reciprocatingelements is also derived.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 7 corresponds in every respectto the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 but ismodified for a machine in which the coulier distance varies and isautomatically adjusted to the width of the knitted fabric. Under suchoperational conditions, the coulier speed is not in a xed ratio to therotary speed of the main drive shaft and of the cam shaft of themachine, but the ratio varies when the coulier distance and length ofreciprocating stroke is varied. Assuming the constant speed of the maindrive shaft and cam shaft, the coulier speed is reduced When the widthof the knitted fabric is reduced.

The shock absorbing apparatus according to the present inventionrequires that the rotary speed of control shaft 16 is always in acertain predetermined ratio to the coulier speed, and to the speed ofreciprocation of the yarn carrier means. Consequently, control shaft 16cannot be directly driven from the main drive shaft or cam shaft of themachine as described with reference to FIG. 5, but must be driven at arotary speed corresponding to the speed of reciprocation of the frictionbox rod 1. However, since friction box rod 1 moves in oppositedirections while reciprocating, a direct transmission between frictionbox rod 1 and control shaft 16 would cause alternate rotating of controlshaft 16 in oposite direction, and in accordance with the presentinvention, reversing gear means are provided.

As shown in FIGS, 6 and 7, a rack bar 18 is secured to friction box rod1 for reciprocation at the same speed. A gear 19 is mounted in asuitable bearing of beam 32, and meshes with rack bar 18 so that it isturned in opposite directions during reciprocating strokes of frictionbox rod 1 with rack bar 18. A bevel gear 20 is secured to gear 19 andturns with the same. Bevel gears 21 and 22 mesh with bevel gear 21D andare mounted for turning movement on cylindrical portions of the splinedcontrol shaft 16. Bevel gears 21 and 22 cannot be simultaneouslyconnected to control shaft 16, since they rotate in -opposite directionswhile each bevel gear 21 and 22 changes its direction of reciprocationin accordance with the directions of the reciprocating strokes of rackbar 18. Each bevel gear 21 and 22 has a coupling portion cooperatingwith a corresponding coupling portion 23 or 24, coupling portions 23 and24 being connected by a yoke 28. Each coupling means 23 and 24 hasprojections engaging the grooves in control shaft 16 so that couplingmeans 23 and 24 are connected with control shaft 16 for rotationtherewith and are shiftable thereon in axial directions. Coupling means23 and 24 are turnably mounted in yoke 28, so that shifting of yoke 28with coupling means 23 and 24 to the right as viewed in FIG. 6 willcause coupling means 23 to engage with its coupling fingers thecorresponding coupling part on bevel gear 21 so that the same is coupledwith control shaft 16 for rotation therewith whereby control shaft 16 isrotated at the rotary speed depending on the speed of reciprocation offriction box rod 1 and rack bar 18. When yoke 28 with coupling means 23,24 is shifted to the left as viewed in FIG. 6, coupling means 23 isdisengaged, and coupling means 241 is engaged so that control shaft 16is now driven through bevel gear 22, instead of through bevel gear 21 asbefore. Coupling means 28, 23, 24, and more particularly yoke 28 ispivotally connected to the end of a cam follower lever 27 which ismounted on a bearing bracket on beam 32. The end of cam follower lever27 carries a cam follower roller coop- :rating with an auxiliary cam 26secured to coulier shaft 75 25 on which draw cam 44 is mounted, as bestseen in FIG. 7. As explained above, the reciprocating motion of frictionbox rod 1, and of rack bar 18, is derived from draw cam 44 and dependson the rotary speed of coulier shaft 2S. Auxiliary cam 26 rotates at thesame speed as draw cam 44, and its shape is designed in such a mannerthat Cam follower lever 27 is reciprocated in timed relation with thereciprocating motion of friction box rod 1 and rack bar 1S. Wheneverfriction box rod 1 and rack bar 18 arrive at the end of a reciprocatingstroke and reverse the direction of movement, coupling means 28, 23, 24is shifted. Since bevel gears 21, 22 reverse the direction of rotationin synchronism with the reciprocation of rack bar 18, and since they arecoupled in synchronism with the same reciprocating movement, controlshaft 16 is coupled alternately to bevel gears 21 and 22 in such amanner as to always rotate in the same direction of rotation at a speedwhich depends on the speed of reciprocation of friction box rod 1.

As explained with reference t-o the embodiment of FIGS. l to 5, therotary speed of control shaft 16 must be in a selected ratio to thespeed of reciprocation of the friction box rod 1, and this isaccomplished in the em bodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 by driving controlshaft 16 from the coulier shaft 25 rather than from the main drive shaft37 which is necessary in machines where the speed of the coulier shaft25 varies in relation to the speed of the main shaft 37 in accordancewith the width of the knitted fabric.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofshock absorbing apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in ashock absorbing apparatus for the yarn carrier means of a straight barknitting machine, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown,since various modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Shock absorbing apparatus comprising, in combination, control shaftmeans; means for rotating said control shaft means at a selected speed;supporting means; shock absorbing means mounted on said supporting meansfor turning movement; an overrunning clutch connecting said shockabsorbing means with said control shaft means and having a position ofrest in which said overrunning clutch is disengaged; and a reciprocablemember driven to move in one direction at a speed having a predeterminedratio to said selected speed of said control shaft means and engagingsaid shock absorbing means near the end of a reciprocating strokewhereby said shock absorbing means is turned at such a speed that saidoverrunning clutch is engaged and said control shaft means turns saidshock absorbing means at said selected speed whereby the speed offurther movement of said reciprocable member cannot exceed the speedcomponent of the rotary speed of said shock absorbing means in saiddirection of movement of said reciprocating member.

2. Shock absorbing apparatus comprising, in combination, control shaftmeans; means for rotating said control shaft means at a selected speed;supporting means; shock absorbing means mounted on said supporting meansfor turning movement and including an engaging member movable along acircular path; an overrunning clutch connecting said shock absorbingmeans with said control shaft means and having a position of rest inwhich said overrunning clutch is disengaged and said envaging member islocated in a first angular position; and a reciprocable member driven tomove in one direction transverse to a plane passing through saidengaging member in said first angular position and the center of saidcircular path at a speed having a predetermined ratio to said selectedspeed of said control shaft means and engaging said engaging member ofsaid shock absorbing means near the end of a reciprocating strokewhereby said shock absorbing means is turned until said engaging memberis located in a second angular position in which a plane passing throughsaid engaging member and the center of said circular path extends insaid direction, said shock absorbing means being turned at such a speedthat said overrunning clutch is engaged and said control shaft meansturns said shock absorbing means at said selected speed whereby thespeed of further movement of said reciprocable member cannot exceed thespeed component of the rotary speed of said shock absorbing means insaid direction of movement of said reciprocating member and is Zero insaid second angular position of said engaging member of said shockabsorbing means.

3. Shock absorbing apparatus comprising, in combination, control shaftmeans; means for rotating said control shaft means at a selected speed;supporting means; shock absorbing means mounted on said supporting meansfor turning movement; an overrunning clutch connecting said shockabsorbing means with said control shaft means and having a position ofrest in which said overrunning clutch is disengaged; biasing means forurging said overrunning clutch to said position of rest; and areciprocable member driven to move in one direction at a speed having apredetermined ratio to said selected speed of said control shaft meansand engaging said shock absorbing means near the end of a reciprocatingstroke whereby said shock absorbing means is turned at the rotary speedof said control shaft means so that said overrunning clutch is engagedand said control shaft means turns said shock absorbing means at saidselected speed whereby the speed of further movement of saidreciprocable member cannot exceed the speed component of the rotaryspeed of said shock absorbing means in said direction of movement ofsaid reciprocating member.

4. Shock absorbing apparatus comprising, in combination, control shaftmeans; means for rotating said control shaft means at a selected speed;supporting means; `shock absorbing means mounted on said supportingmeans for turning movement and including an engaging member movablealong a circular path; an overrunning clutch connecting said shockabsorbing means with said control shaft means and having a position ofrest in which said overrunning clutch is disengaged and said engagingmember is located in a first angular position; biasing means for urgingsaid overrunning clutch to said position of rest; a lever' mounted onsaid supporting means for turning movement and cooperating with saidengaging member so that turning of said lever will cause turningmovement of said shock absorbing means ont of said position of rest; anda reciprocable member driven to move in one direction transverse to aplane passing through said engaging member in said rst angular positionand the center of said circular path at a speed having a predeterminedratio to said selected speed of said control shaft means and engagingsaid lever near the end of a reciprocating stroke whereby said shockabsorbing means is turned until said engaging member is located in asecond angular position in which a plane passing through said engagingmember and the center of said circular path extends in said direction,said shock absorbing means being turned at the rotary speed of saidcontrol shaft means so that said overrunning clutch is engaged and saidcontrol shaft means turns said shock absorbing means at said selectedspeed whereby the speed of further movement of said reciprocable membercannot exceed the speed component of the rotary speed of said shockabsorbing means in said direction of movement of said reciprocatingmember and is zero in said second angular position of said engagingmember of said shock absorbing means.

5. Shock absorbing apparatus for a straight bar knitting machinecomprising, in combination, control shaft means; means for rotating saidcontrol shaft means at a selected speed; supporting means; shockabsorbing means mounted on said supporting means for turning movement;an overrunning clutch connecting said shock absorbing means with saidcontrol shaft means; biasing means for holding said clutch in a positionof rest in which said clutch is disengaged; a reciprocable friction boxrod driven to move in longitudinal direction thereof "at a speed havinga predetermined ratio to said selected speed of said control shaftmeans; friction box means mounted on said rod for reciprocating movementtherewith; and yarn carrier means connected with said friction box meansto be reciprocated by the same, said friction box means engaging saidshock absorbing means at the end of a reciprocating stroke so that saidshock absorbing means is turned at such a speed that said overrunningclutch is engaged and said control shaft means turns said shockabsorbing means at said selected speed whereby the speed of further:movement of said friction box means cannot exceed the speed componentof the rotary speed of said shock absorbing means in said direc!- tionof movement of said friction box means and of said rod.

6. Shock absorbing apparatus for a straight bar knitting machinecomprising, in combination, control-shaft means; means for rotating saidcontrol shaft means at a selected speed; supporting means; shockabsorbing means mounted on said supporting means for turning movementand including an engaging member movable along a circular path; anoverrunning clutch connecting said shock absorbing means with saidcontrol shaft means; biasing means for holdingsaid clutch in a positionof rest in which said clutch is disengaged and said engaging member islocated in ia first angular position; a reciprocable friction box roddriven to move in longitudinal direction thereof at a speed having apredetermined ratio to said selected speed of said control shaft means,the direction of movement of said friction box rod being transverse to aplane passing through said engaging member and the center of saidcircular path; friction box means mounted on said rod for reciprocatingmovement therewith; and yarn carrier means connected with said frictionbox means to be reciprocated by the same, said friction box meansengaging said engaging member of said shock absorbing means in saidfirst angular position at the end of a reciprocating stroke whereby saidshock absorbing means is turned until said engaging member is located ina second angular position in which a plane passing through said engagingmember and the center of said circular path extends in said direction,said shock absorbing means being turned at such a speed that saidoverrunning clutch is engaged and said control shaft means turns saidshock absorbing means at said selected speed whereby the speed offurther movement of said friction box means cannot exceed the speedcomponent of the rotary speed of said shock absorbing means in saiddirection of movement of said friction box means and of said rod and isreduced to zero in said second angular position of said engaging memberwhereby said friction box means and yarn carrier means are stoppedduring further reciprocating movement of said rod.

7. Shock absorbing apparatus for a straight bar knitting machinecomprising, in combination, control shaft means; means for rotating saidcontrol shaft means at a selected speed; supporting means; shockabsorbing means mounted' on said supporting means for turning movementandincluding an engaging member movable along a circular path; anoverrunning clutch connecting said shock absorbing means with saidcontrol shaft means; biasing means for holding said clutch in a positionof rest in which said clutch is disengaged and said engaging member islocated in a rst angular position; a lever means mounted on saidsupporting means for turning movement about an axis spaced from thecenter of said circular path and cooperating with said engaging memberso that turning of said lever in one direction will cause turningmovement of said shock absorbing means through an angle of substantially90 out of said position of rest; a reciprocable friction box rod drivento move in longitudinal direction thereof at a speed having apredetermined ratio to said selected speed of said control means, thedirection of movement of said friction box rod being transverse to aplane passing through said engaging member and the center of saidcircularpath; friction box means mounted on said rod for reciprocatingmovement therewith; and yarn carrier means connected with said frictionbox means to be reciprocated by the same, said friction box meansengaging said lever while said engaging member is in said first angularposition at the end of a reciprocating stroke whereby said lever turnssaid shock absorbing means until said engaging member is located in asecond angular position in which a plane passing through said engagingmember and the center of said circular path extends in said direction,said shock absorbing means being turned by such a speed that saidoverrunning clutch is engaged and said control shaft means turns saidshock absorbing means at said selected speed whereby the speed offurther movement of said friction box means cannot exceed the speedcomponent of the rotary speed of said shock absorbing means in saiddirection of movement of said friction box means and of said rod and isreduced to zero `in said second angular position of said engaging memberwhereby said friction box means and yarn carrier means are stoppedduring further reciprocating movement of said rod.

8. A shock absorbing apparatus 'as set forth in claim 7 wherein saidlever has an intermediate portion cooperating with said engaging memberand an end portion engaged by said friction box means.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said shock absorbingmeans includes a shaft mounted for turning movement in said supportingmeans, a plate secured to said shaft, and a stud mounted on said plateradially spaced from the axis of said shaft, said engaging member beinga roller mounted on said stud for turning movement so as to roll on saidlever during movement between said angular positions.

1t). An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 and including stop means onsaid supporting means for limiting movement of said lever against theaction of said biasing means when said engaging member is in said firstangular position and said clutch in said position of rest.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said overrunning clutchincludes a first part connected with said shock absorbing means forturning movement therewith, and a second part connected with saidcontrol shaft means for turning movement therewith; and wherein saidbiasing means connect said supporting means with said shock absorbingmeans to turn the latter with said first part to a position in whichsaid overrunning clutch is disengaged; and stop means on said supportingmeans for blocking turning movement of said shock absorbing means underthe action of said biasing means when said engaging member is in saidrst angular position.

12. Shock absorbing apparatus for a straight bar knitting machinecomprising, in combination, a main drive shaft; control shaft means;transmission means connecting said main drive shaft with said controlshaft means ,for rotating said control shaft means at a selected speed;

supporting means; shock absorbing means mounted on said supporting meansfor turning movement; an overrunning clutch connecting said shockabsorbing means with said control shaft means; biasing means for holdingsaid clutch in a position of rest in which said clutch is disengaged; adraw cam driven from said main drive shaft; a rocker arm having camfollower means cooperating with said draw cam so as to be reciprocated;a friction box rod connected with said rocker arm and reciprocated bythe same in longitudinal Idirection thereof at a speed having apredetermined ratio to said selected speed of said control shaft means;friction box means mounted on said rod for reciprocating movementtherewith; and yarn carrier means connected with said friction box meansto be reciprocated by the same, said friction box means engaging saidshock absorbing means at the end of a reciprocating stroke so that saidshock absorbing means is turned at such a speed that said overrunningclutch is engaged and said control shaft means turns said shockabsorbing means at said selected speed whereby the speed of furthermovement of said friction box means cannot exceed the speed component ofthe rotary speed of said shock absorbing means in said direction ofmovement of said friction box means and of said rod.

13. A shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein saidoverrunning clutch is mounted in said supporting means and includes afirst part connected to said shock absorbing means and a second parthaving a gear portion; and a gear mounted on said control shaft meansand meshing with said gear portion.

14. A shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 13 and includingan elongated guide member extending parallel to said friction box rod,said supporting means being mounted on said guide member for movementalong the same; and means for adjusting the position of said supportingmeans and for holding the same in a selected position; said controlshaft having longitudinally extending grooves, and said gear beingmounted on said supporting means for turning movement and on sai-dcontrol shaft means for axial movement and having means engaging saidgrooves.

15. A shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein saidyarn carrying means includes a yarn carrier rod and yarn carriers onsaid yarn carrier rod; a stop secured to said yarn carrier rod; a guidemember extending in the direction of said yarn carrier rod and frictionbox rod and supporting said supporting means for movement along the samewith said shock absorbing means; and stop means secured to saidsupporting means for movement with the same and cooperating with saidstop on said yarn carrier rod to stop the latter when said friction boxmeans has turned said engaging member to said second angular position.

16. Shock absorbing apparatus for a straight bar knitting machinecomprising, in combination, a main drive shaft; control shaft means;means for rotating said control shaft means at a selected speed;supporting means; shock absorbing means mounted on said supporting meansfor turning movement; `an overrunning clutch connecting said shockabsorbing means with said control shaft means; biasing means forfholding said clutch in a position of rest in which said clutch isdisengaged; a draw cam driven from said main drive shaft; a rocker armhaving cam follower means cooperating with said draw cam so as to bereciprocated; a friction box rod connected with said rocker arm andreciprocated by the same in longitudinal direction thereof at a speedhaving a predetermined ratio to said selected speed of said controlshaft means; an auxiliary cam connected with said draw cam for rotationtherewith; a carn follower lever cooperating with said auxiliary cam; arack bar connected with said friction box rod for reciprocatingmovement, a gear meshing with said rack bar, and reversing gear meansconnecting said gear with said control shaft and `being operated by saidcam follower lever to cause rotation of said control shaft in the samedirection of rotation while said gear is turned in opposite directionsduring opposite reciprocating strokes; friction box means mounted onsaid rod for reciprocating movement therewith; and yarn carrier meansconnected with said friction box means to be reciprocated by the same,said friction box means engaging said shock absorbing means at the endof a reciprocating stroke so that said shock absorbing means is turnedat such a speed that said overrunning clutch is engaged and said controlshaft means turns said shock absorbing means at said selected speedwhereby the speed of further movement of said friction box means cannotexceed the speed component of the rotary speed of said shock absorbingmeans in said direction of movement of said friction box means and ofsaid rod.

1'7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said control shaftmeans has longitudinal grooves; Wherein said reversing gear meansinclude a bevel gear secured to said gear, and a pair of bevel gearsmeshing with said bevel gear; and coupling means mounted on said controlshaft means non-turnably and for axial movement between two couplingpositions in which one or the other of said pair of bevel gears iscoupled with said control shaft means for rotation, said coupling meansbeing connected with said cam follower lever and shifted by the sameunder control of said auxiliary cam.

18. Shock absorbing apparatus for a straight bar knitting machinecomprising, in combination, control shaft means; supporting means; shockabsorbing means mounted on said supporting means for turning movement;an overrunning clutch connecting said shock absorbing means with saidcontrol shaft means; biasing means for holding said clutch in a positionof rest in which said clutch is disengaged; a reciprocable friction boxrod driven to move in longitudinal direction thereof; means connectingsaid reciprocable friction box with said control shaft means forrotating said control shaft means in one direction at a rotary speedhaving a predetermined ratio to the speed of reciprocation of saidfriction box rod; friction box means mounted on said rod forreciprocating movement therewith; and yarn carrier means connected withsaid friction box means to be reciprocated by the same, said frictionbox means engaging said shock absorbing means at the end of areciprocating stroke so that said shock absorbing means is turned atsuch a speed that said overrunning clutch is engaged and said controlshaft means turns said shock absorbing means at a rotary speedcorresponding to the speed of said friction box means and friction boxrod whereby the speed of further movement of said friction box meanscannot exceed the speed component of the rotary speed of said shockabsorbing means in said direction of movement of said friction box meansand of said rod.

19. Shock absorbing apparatus for a straight bar knitting machinecomprising, in combination, a main drive shaft; control shaft meansdriven from said main drive shaft at a selected speed; an elongatedguide member parallel with said control shaft means; a pair ofsupporting means mounted on said elongated guide member; means forsecuring said supporting means to said guide member in selectedpositions; an engaging member mounted on each supporting means forturning movement along a circular path and having a rst angular positionin which a plane through said engaging member and the center of saidpath is transverse to said control shaft means, and a second angularposition in which a plane through said engaging member and said centeris parallel to said control shaft means; an overrunning clutch mountedon each supporting means and having a first part secured to saidengaging member for turning movement therewith and a second partconnected with said control shaft means and driven by the same; biasingmeans for holding said rst part in a position in which said clutch isdisengaged and said engaging member is in said first angular position;force transmitting member mounted on each supporting means cooperatingwith the respective engaging member so that movement of said forcetransmitting member will cause turning of said engaging member from saidfirst angular position to said second angular position while saidengaging memberl moves along said force transmitting member; areciprocable friction box rod parallel to said control shaft and drivenfrom said main drive shaft to reciprocate in longitudinal directionthereof at a speed corresponding to the rotary speed of said controlshaft means and to the speed of said engaging member along said circularpath when said clutch is engaged; friction box means mounted on said rodfor reciprocating movement therewith; and yarn carrying means connectedwith said friction box means to be reciprocated by the same, saidfriction box means engaging said force transmitting members in saidfirst angular position at the ends of opposite reciprocating strokeswhereby the respective engaging member is turned with said first part ofthe respective clutch to said second angular position at the speed ofsaid second part so that the speed of further movement of said. frictionbox means cannot exceed the speed component of the speed of saidengaging member along said circular path effective in the direction ofreciprocation of said friction box means and is reduced to zero in saidsecond angular position of said engaging member whereby said frictionbox means and yarn carrier means are stopped.

20. A shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 19 and includingcam means driven from said main drive shaft; iirst cam follower meanscooperating with said cam means and connected with said friction box rodfor reciprocating the same; second cam follower means cooperating withsaid cam means; said transmission means 45 connecting said second camfollower means with said control cam shaft means for rotating the latterin one direction of rotation so that the speed of said control shaftmeans, and the speed of movement of said engaging member along saidcircular path depend on the speed of reciprocation of said friction boxrod.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MERVIN STEIN,Primary Examiner.

R. FELDBAUM, Assistant Examiner,

1. SHOCK ABSORBING APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, CONTROL SHAFTMEANS; MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CONTROL SHAFT MEANS AT A SELECTED SPEED;SUPPORTING MEANS; SHOCK ABSORBING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANSFOR TURNING MOVEMENT; AN OVERRUNNING CLUTCH CONNECTING SAID SHOCKABSORBING MEANS WITH SAID CONTROL SHAFT MEANS AND HAVING A POSITION OFREST IN WHICH SAID OVERRUNNING CLUTH IS DISENGAGED; AND A RECIPROCABLEMEMBER DRIVEN TO MOVE IN ONE DIRECTION AT A SPEED HAVING A PREDETERMINEDRATIO TO SAID SELECTED SPEED TO SAID CONTROL SHAFT MEANS AND ENGAGINGSAID STROKE ABSORBING MEANS NEAR THE END OF A RECIPROCATING STROKEWHEREBY SAID SHOCK ABSORBING MEANS IS TURNED AT SUCH A SPEED THAT SAIDOVERRUNNING CLUTCH IS ENGAGED AND SAID CONTROL SHAFT MEANS TURNS SAIDSHOCK ABSORBING MEANS AT SAID SELECTED SPEED WHEREBY THE SPEED OFFURTHER MOVEMENT OF SAID RECIPROCABLE MEMBER CANNOT EXCEED THE SPEEDCOMPONENT OF THE ROTARY SPEED OF SAID SHOCK ABSORBING MEANS IN SAIDDIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID RECIPROCATING MEMBER.